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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) operates 4 TV stations, 3 are free-to-air and 1 is pay TV; e.tv, a private station, is accessible to more than half the population; multiple subscription TV services provide a mix of local and international channels; well developed mix of public and private radio stations at the national, regional, and local levels; the SABC radio network, state-owned and controlled but nominally independent, operates 18 stations, one for each of the 11 official languages, 4 community stations, and 3 commercial stations; more than 100 community-based stations extend coverage to rural areas (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.za

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

4.761 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 23

Internet users [time series]

4.42 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 54

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: the system is the best developed and most modern in Africa domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 140 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria international: country code - 27; the SAT-3/WASC and SAFE fiber-optic submarine cable systems connect South Africa to Europe and Asia; the EASSy fiber-optic cable system connects with Europe and North America; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

4.03 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 42

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

68.4 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 19

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $88.53 billion expenditures: $105.5 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-4.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Central bank discount rate [time series]

5% (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 43 7% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

8.5% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 8.75% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$23.78 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 -$24.07 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$139 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $130.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

63.1 (2005) country comparison to the world: 2 59.3 (1994)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors and a stock exchange that is the 16th largest in the world. Even though the country's modern infrastructure supports a relatively efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region, unstable electricity supplies retard growth. The global financial crisis reduced commodity prices and world demand. GDP fell nearly 2% in 2009 but has recovered since then, albeit slowly with 2014 growth projected at about 2%. Unemployment, poverty, and inequality - among the highest in the world - remain a challenge. Official unemployment is at nearly 25% of the work force, and runs significantly higher among black youth. Eskom, the state-run power company, has built two new power stations and installed new power demand management programs to improve power grid reliability. Construction delays at two additional plants, however, mean South Africa is operating on a razor thin margin; economists judge that growth cannot exceed 3% until those plants come on line. South Africa's economic policy has focused on controlling inflation, however, the country has had significant budget deficits that restrict its ability to deal with pressing economic problems. The current government faces growing pressure from special interest groups to use state-owned enterprises to deliver basic services to low-income areas and to increase job growth.

Exchange rates [time series]

rand (ZAR) per US dollar - 9.576 (2013 est.) 8.2031 (2012 est.) 7.3212 (2010 est.) 8.42 (2009) 7.9576 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$91.05 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $93.48 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment

Exports - partners [time series]

China 11.8%, US 8.3%, Japan 6%, Germany 5.7%, India 4.2% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$353.9 billion (2013 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$595.7 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $584 billion (2012 est.) $569.5 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 63.8% government consumption: 24% investment in fixed capital: 22% investment in inventories: -0.8% exports of goods and services: 30.6% imports of goods and services: -39.6% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 2.6% industry: 29% services: 68.4% (2013 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$11,500 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $11,400 (2012 est.) $11,300 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 143 2.5% (2012 est.) 3.5% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

15.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 13.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 16.1% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 51.7% (2009 est.)

Imports [time series]

$99.55 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $102.6 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

China 14.4%, Germany 10.1%, Saudi Arabia 7.7%, US 7.4%, Japan 4.6%, India 4.5% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Industries [time series]

mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 5.7% (2012 est.)

Labor force [time series]

18.54 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 9% industry: 26% services: 65% (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$1.038 trillion (31 December 2012) country comparison to the world: 15 $855.7 billion (31 December 2011) $1.013 trillion (31 December 2010)

Population below poverty line [time series]

31.3% (2009 est.)

Public debt [time series]

45.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 42.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$48.46 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $50.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$198 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 $220.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$87.67 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $82.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$143.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $139 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$252.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $298.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$110.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 34 $122 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

25% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Unemployment rate [time series]

24.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 25.1% (2012 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

461.6 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Crude oil - imports [time series]

385,100 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Crude oil - production [time series]

181,000 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

15 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - consumption [time series]

234.2 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity - exports [time series]

15.04 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

90.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

1.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

4.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0.5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity - imports [time series]

11.89 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

44.26 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Electricity - production [time series]

257.9 billion kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

4.01 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Natural gas - imports [time series]

3.3 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Natural gas - production [time series]

1.28 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

16 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

590,900 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

80,460 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

79,010 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

437,600 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,219,090 sq km country comparison to the world: 25 land: 1,214,470 sq km water: 4,620 sq km note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Climate [time series]

mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights

Coastline [time series]

2,798 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 12.5 cu km/yr (36%/7%/57%) per capita: 271.7 cu m/yr (2005)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

29 00 S, 24 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

Irrigated land [time series]

16,700 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 4,862 km border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 9.87% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 89.79% (2011)

Location [time series]

Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards [time series]

prolonged droughts volcanism: the volcano forming Marion Island in the Prince Edward Islands, which last erupted in 2004, is South Africa's only active volcano

Natural resources [time series]

gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Terrain [time series]

vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Total renewable water resources [time series]

51.4 cu km (2011)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape

Capital [time series]

name: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital) geographic coordinates: 25 42 S, 28 13 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved 4 December 1997, effective 4 February 1997; amended many times, last in 2013 (2013)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa former: Union of South Africa abbreviation: RSA

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick GASPARD (since 1 August 2013) embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: [27] (12) 431-4000 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2299 consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ebrahim RASOOL (since 4 August 2010) chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May 2009); Deputy President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 26 May 2014) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May 2009); Deputy President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 26 May 2014) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 May 2014 (next to be held on May 2019) election results: Jacob ZUMA re-elected president unopposed; he was sworn in on 24 May 2014

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes; the flag colors do not have any official symbolism, but the Y stands for the "convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"; black, yellow, and green are found on the flag of the African National Congress, while red, white, and blue are the colors in the flags of the Netherlands and the UK, whose settlers ruled South Africa during the colonial era note: the South African flag is one of only two national flags to display six colors as part of its primary design, the other is South Sudan's

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, NSG, OECD (Enhanced Engagement, OPCW, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Appeals (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 21 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Appeals president and vice-president appointed by the national president after consultation with the Joint Services Commission (JSC), a 22-member body of judicial and other government officials, and a law academics; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service in terms of an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the national president after consultation with the JSC and with heads of the National Assembly; other Constitutional Court judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the chief justice and leaders of the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges appointed for 12-year non-renewable terms or until age 70 subordinate courts: High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts;

Legal system [time series]

mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Council of Provinces (90 seats; 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has special powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities) and the National Assembly (400 seats; members elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces - last held on 7 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019) election results: National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 62.2%, DA 22.2%, EFF 6.4%, IFP 2.4%, NFP 1.6%, other 5.2%; seats by party - ANC 249, DA 89, EFF 25, IFP 10, NFP 6, other 21

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "National Anthem of South Africa"

National holiday [time series]

Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

National symbol(s) [time series]

springbok antelope

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE] African National Congress or ANC [Jacob ZUMA] Congress of the People or COPE [Mosiuoa LEKOTA] Democratic Alliance or DA [Helen ZILLE] Economic Freedom Fighters or EFF [Julius MALEMA] Freedom Front Plus or FF+ [Pieter MULDER] Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI] National Freedom Party or NFP [Zanele kaMAGWAZA-MSIBI] Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania or PAC [Alton MPHETHI] United Christian Democratic Party or UCDP [Isaac Sipho MFUNDISI] United Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary] South African Communist Party or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary] South African National Civics Organization or SANCO [Richard MDAKANE, national president] note: COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Second Anglo Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, as the Boers became known, ruled together beginning in 1910 under the Union of South Africa, which became a republic in 1961 after a whites-only referendum. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races - which favored the white minority at the expense of the black majority. The African National Congress (ANC) led the opposition to apartheid and many top ANC leaders, such as Nelson MANDELA, spent decades in South Africa's prisons. Internal protests and insurgency, as well as boycotts by some Western nations and institutions, led to the regime's eventual willingness to negotiate a peaceful transition to majority rule. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid and ushered in majority rule under an ANC-led government. South Africa since then has struggled to address apartheid-era imbalances in decent housing, education, and health care. ANC infighting, which has grown in recent years, came to a head in September 2008 when President Thabo MBEKI resigned, and Kgalema MOTLANTHE, the party's General-Secretary, succeeded him as interim president. Jacob ZUMA became president after the ANC won general elections in April 2009. National presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 2014.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 13,439,781 females age 16-49: 12,473,641 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 7,617,063 females age 16-49: 6,476,264 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 482,122 female: 485,017 (2010 est.)

Military - note [time series]

with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), South African Military Health Services (2013)

Military expenditures [time series]

1% of GDP (2013) country comparison to the world: 101 1.16% of GDP (2012) 1.14% of GDP (2011) 1.16% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women are eligible to serve in noncombat roles; 2-year service obligation (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 28.3% (male 6,859,518/female 6,815,185) 15-24 years: 20.2% (male 4,914,394/female 4,866,121) 25-54 years: 38.2% (male 9,543,746/female 8,923,605) 55-64 years: 7.1% (male 1,470,282/female 1,950,499) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,205,657/female 1,826,638) (2014 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.94 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

8.7% (2008) country comparison to the world: 71

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

59.9% (2003/04)

Death rate [time series]

17.49 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 53.9 % youth dependency ratio: 45.2 % elderly dependency ratio: 8.7 % potential support ratio: 11.5 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 99.2% of population rural: 88.3% of population total: 95.1% of population unimproved: urban: 0.8% of population rural: 11.7% of population total: 4.9% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 42

Ethnic groups [time series]

black African 79.2%, white 8.9%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5%, other 0.5% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

17.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

235,100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 2

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

6,070,800 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 1

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

8.5% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 54

Hospital bed density [time series]

2.8 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 41.61 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 51 male: 45.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 37.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages [time series]

IsiZulu (official) 22.7%, IsiXhosa (official) 16%, Afrikaans (official) 13.5%, English (official) 9.6%, Sepedi (official) 9.1%, Setswana (official) 8%, Sesotho (official) 7.6%, Xitsonga (official) 4.5%, siSwati (official) 2.5%, Tshivenda (official) 2.4%, isiNdebele (official) 2.1%, sign language 0.5%, other 1.6% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 49.56 years country comparison to the world: 222 male: 50.52 years female: 48.58 years (2014 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 93.9% female: 92.2% (2011 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2013)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

Johannesburg 3.844 million; Cape Town (legislative capital) 3.562 million; Ekurhuleni (East Rand) 3.357 million; Durban 3.012 million; PRETORIA (capital) 1.501 million; Vereeniging 1.2 million; Bloemfontein (judicial capital) 468,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

300 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 38

Median age [time series]

total: 25.7 years male: 25.4 years female: 26 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

22.5 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2003-04 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: South African(s) adjective: South African

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 200 note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

31.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 24

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.76 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population [time series]

48,375,645 country comparison to the world: 28 note: Statistics South Africa (the national statistical agency of South Africa) estimates the country's mid-year 2013 total population to be 52,981,991, which takes into account the findings of South Africa's 2011 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.48% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 222

Religions [time series]

Protestant 36.6% (Zionist Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%), Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 81.7% of population rural: 62.4% of population total: 74.4% of population unimproved: urban: 18.3% of population rural: 37.6% of population total: 25.6% of population (2012 est.)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.23 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 51.5% country comparison to the world: 6 male: 47.1% female: 56.9% (2012)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 62% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 1.21% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

South Africa has placed military units to assist police operations along the border of Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to control smuggling, poaching, and illegal migration; the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment center for heroin, hashish, and cocaine, as well as a major cultivator of marijuana in its own right; cocaine and heroin consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries, but increasingly producing its own synthetic drugs for domestic consumption; attractive venue for money launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and narcotics activity in the region and the size of the South African economy

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 20,814 (Somalia); 14,374 (Democratic Republic of Congo); 7,578 (Ethiopia) (2013)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

566 (2013) country comparison to the world: 11

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 144 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 52 914 to 1,523 m: 65 under 914 m: 9 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 422 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 258 under 914 m: 132 (2013)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 country comparison to the world: 134 by type: petroleum tanker 3 registered in other countries: 19 (Australia 1, Isle of Man 2, Mexico 1, NZ 1, Seychelles 1, Singapore 13) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 94 km; gas 1,293 km; oil 992 km; refined products 1,460 km (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay container port(s) (TEUs): Durban (2,712,975)

Railways [time series]

total: 20,192 km country comparison to the world: 14 narrow gauge: 19,756 km 1.065-m gauge (8,271 km electrified); 122 km 0.750-m gauge; 314 km 0.610-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 364,131 km country comparison to the world: 19 paved: 62,995 km (includes 254 km of expressways) unpaved: 301,136 km (2002)